Household napkin holder and dispenser



Dec. 11, 1962 M. A. LENZl ETAL HOUSEHOLD NAPKIN HOLDER AND DISPENSERFiled May 24, 1960 23 INVENTORS. MAP/5 A. lfA/Z/ E WI LOU/J Q EACITT/ WKM A 770f/VEX 3,068,055 HOUSEHOLD NAIKIN HOLDER AND DISPENSER Marie A.Lenzi, 632 Kennerly Road, and Louis Charles Quereetti, 631 KennerlyRoad, both of Springfield, Pa. Filed May 24, 1960, Ser. No. 31,451 4Claims. (Cl. 312-50) This invention relates generally to a householddevice for holding and dispensing napkins, and this application is acontinuation-in-part of copending patent application Serial No. 840,732,filed September 17, 1959.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a domestic napkinholder and dispenser which is extremely simple in construction and use,durable and reliable in operation throughout a long useful life, andwhich is capable of many different highly attractive appearances.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a householdnapkin holder and dispenser which is relatively inexpensive inmanufacture, capable of quick and easy loading with a pack of napkins,and wherein the napkins may be readily withdrawn individually, asrequired.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to'the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and .arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view showing a napkin holder anddispenser constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention and in condition for use;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view showing the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along theline 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 3;and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the device of the instantinvention in an exploded condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically toFIGURES 1-3 thereof, the napkin-holdingand-dispensing device of theinstant invention is there generally designated and includes a generallyhexahedral or boxlike container having a front or forward section,generally designated 11, and a back or rear section, generallydesignated 12.

The front section 11 includes a bottom part or base 14 having agenerally rectangular, horizontally disposed bottom wall 15 and providedalong its front and side edges with a depending flange 16.

Extending generally vertically upward from the bottom wall 15, along theforward margin thereof, is a generally rectangular front wall 17. Ifdesired, the front wall 17 may be provided with any suitableornamentation, such as specifically configured cutouts, or otherwise.The upper edge 18 of the front wall 17 extends generally horizontally orlaterally between the opposite sides of the front wall and has itsmedial portion cut away arcuately, downward, as at 19. The arcuateboundited States Patent ing edge of the cutaway region 19 is providedwith a smooth forwardly outstanding lip 20.

A pair of generally vertically disposed, laterally spaced side walls 21extend generally vertically upward from respective side regions of thebottom wall 15 and each rearward from the adjacent side of the frontwall 17. The side walls 21 may each be generally rectangular, and haveits rear upper region convexly curved, as at 22 in FIGURE 5. Also, arecess or hole 23 may be formed in each side wall 21 in the lower,rearward region thereof, for a purpose appearing presently. In an upperregion of each side wall 21, proximate to the rear edge thereof, and onthe outer or external side of each rear wall is provided a catch element24. As illustrated, the catch element 24 may be of a wedge-shapedconfiguration with its wider edge facing forward.

As thus described, the front section 11 may advantageously be integrallyfabricated of plastic, the dimensions and material being selected toafford the side walls 21 a slight degree of resilient deflectability.That is, the side walls 21 are resiliently deflectable toward and awayfrom each other; and, the wedges or catch elements 24 are movable withthe side walls upon resilient deflection of the latter.

The back section 12 includes a generally rectangular back wall 28, whichhas its upper region bent to curve smoothly forward for mergence with agenerally rectangular top wall 29. Thus, the back wall 28 and top wall29 are connected together by the smoothly curving portion 30, which maybe of a curvature similar to that of the edge portions 22.

The back wall may be formed centrally with a plurality of projections oftabs 31, which may be three in number and located in triangulararrangement, extending obliquely inward or forward away from each other.There may also be provided in the back wall 28, say in the upper regionthereof, a pair of laterally spaced apart, inverted, generallykeyhole-shaped slots or apertures 32, and if desired an additionalgenerally circular hole or aperture 33 spaced medially between thekeyhole-shaped slots. It will also be observed that the back wall 28 isof a smaller vertical dimension than the front wall 17, the lowerlaterally extending edge 34 of the back wall terminating in verticallyspaced relation above the bottlom wall 15 in the assembled condition ofFIGURES and 2.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the top wall 29 extendsforward from the back wall 28 and terminates at a forward, laterallyextending edge 35 which is short of or spaced rearward from the frontwall 17. Further, the forward edge 35 of top wall 29, which extendslaterally between opposite sides of the top wall, is formed with anintermediate, rearwardly cutawayregion 36 of an arcuate configurationcomplementary to the front-wall cutout 19. Extending along the boundingedge of the cutout 36, upstanding from the top wall 29, is a rounded lipor head 37.

Extending along each pair of adjacent side edges of the back wall 28 andtop wall 29, and the curved connecting portion 30, are a pair offorwardly and downwardly extending wall portions or flanges 38 and 39.More S1361 cifically, a wall portion or flange 38 extends forward fromeach side edge of the back wall 28, while the wall portion or flange 39extends downward from each side edge of the top wall; and, an arcuate orcurved wall por- Patented Dec. 11, 19 52 tion or flange 4% extends alongeach side edge of the curved wall portion 36} between each adjacent pairof wall portions or flanges 38 and 359i Thus, on each side of the rearsection 12 are provided the integral wall portions or edge flanges 38,39, and 40. The depending wall portion or flange 39 may terminateforwardly approximately at the front edge of the top wall 29, while theforwardly extending wall portion or flange 38 may terminate at alocation spaced above the lower edge 34 of the back wall 28. Morespecifically, the lower edge 34 of the back wall 23, at opposite endsthereof, may extend upward along side edges 41 to the lower end of theadjacent flange 38; and, a depending ear or extension 42 is provided onthe lower end of each flange 38 coplanar therewith. Viewed otherwise,the lower-end extension or car 42 of each flange 38 may be considered asseparated from the adjacent lower rearward region of the back wall 23 bya notch or cutout 42.

Provided on each flange extension or ear 42, see FIG- URE 5, is aninwardly extending lug or pivot pin 43. In

the upper rearward region of each flange 38, proximate to the rear wall28, is a slot or opening 44. The rear section 12, including the rearwall 28, top wall 29, connecting portion 30, as well as the flanges 38,39, and and the cars 42, are also advantageously integrally fabricatedof plastic. Further, the dimensions and materials are chosen so as toafford slight resilient deflectability to the ears 42; v

Resilient pusher means may assume the form of a coil spring carried onthe inner or forward side of the back wall 28 and extending forwardtherefrom. In particular, the spring 45 has one end coil 46 secured tothe back wall 28 by snug circumposition about the tabs 31, and theremainder of the coil spring extends forward from the back wall. It willbe noted that the convolutions of the coil spring 45 are ofprogressively increasing diameter in the forward direction, so that thespring is substantially completely collapsible to place all theconvolutions in the same plane, each convolution being located withinits next adjacent forward convolution. Furthermore the forwardmostconvolution 47, which is the largest convolution, is preferably of agenerally rectangular or square configuration similar to but slightlysmaller than that of the front wall 17.

In assembling the device 10 from the condition of FIGURE 5, it is onlynecessary to resiliently distend the ears 42 away from each other toeffect insertion of the pins 43 in respective openings 23. In thiscondition, the pins 43 and openings 23 combine to define pivot meanshingedly connecting the front and rear sections 11 and 12 for relativeswinging movement about an axis through the lower rearward regionthereof. Upon relative swinging of the sections toward their closedcondition, the side walls 21 are deflected inward toward each other bycam action of the catch elements or wedges 24 riding beneath or inwardof the flanges 38. Continued closing movement of the front and rearsections 11 and 12 places the catch elements 24 in registry withrespective openings or slots 44 for snap engagement therein, thecondition best shown in FIGURE 4. In this condition, it is apparent thatthe cooperating catch elements 24 and 44 effectively retain the frontand rear sections 11 and 12 in their closed, boxlike condition, fornormal usage of the holder and dispenser 10 in the condition of FIGURES1-3.

It will now be appreciated that a pack of napkins is disposed on edge onthe bottom wall 15, with the forwardmost napkin bearing against theinner face of the front wall 17 and retained thereagainst by pressure ofthe resilient pusher means 45. The forwardmost napkin is thus held inalignment with the vertically opening slot defined between the upperedge of the front wall 17 and the forward edge of the top wall 29, whichslot is of a length at least as great as the width of a napkin forremoval of the napkin upward through the slot.

When it is desired to open the holder and dispenser 10, as for refillingwith napkins, it is only necessary to manually press the side walls 21inward toward each other, whereupon the catch elements 24 are removedfrom the openings 44 and the front section 11 is urged forward away fromthe rear section 12 by the pusher 45. A new pack of napkins may then bereplaced in the front section and the latter swung into closed positionagainst the force of pusher 45 to effect interen-gagement of the catchmeans 24, 44.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A household napkin holder and dispenser comprising an integralplastic front section including a bottom wall for Supporting a pack ofnapkins on edge, a front wall upstanding from said bottom wall forinternal facing engagement with the forwardmost napkin of said pack, andside Walls upstanding from said bottom wall and extending rearward fromsaid front wall, said side walls being manually resiliently deflectableinward toward each other; a separate integral plastic rear sectionincluding an upstanding rear wall rearward of said front and side walls,and a top wall extending forward from the upper region of said rear wallover said bottom and side walls and terminating short of said frontwall; said front and rear sections combining to define a closed boxlikestructure, a pair of forwardly extending plastic flanges on oppositeside edges of said back wall respectively closely overlying said sidewalls, a pair of laterally spaced plastic ears respectively dependingfrom said flanges each in facing relation with the lower region of arespective side wall, said ears each being slightly resilientlydeflectable away from the adjacent side wall, interengaging plasticpivot means on each of said ears and the lower region of adjacent sidewall and connecting said front and rear sections for swinging movementto an open position with said rear wall extending rearwardly and saidtop wall removed from over said bottom wall for insertion of a pack ofnapkins in upstanding relation on said bottom wall, each of said pivotmeans being disengageable upon deflection of the respective ear awayfrom its adjacent side wall, interfitting plastic formations carried bysaid flanges and side walls to retain said sections closed, saidformations being disengageable upon deflection of said side walls, and aresilient pusher extending forward from the inner side of said back wallto urge a pack of napkins forward for individual withdrawal between theadjacent edges of said front and top walls.

2. A household napkin holder and dispenser according to claim 1, themedial region of the upper edge of said front wall and the forward edgeof said top wall being cut away to facilitate manual grasping of saidnapkins for withdrawal.

3. A household napkin holder and dispenser according to claim 2, saidresilient pusher comprising a wire spring having one end connected tosaid back wall and spiraling forward therefrom with an increasing radiusto a generally rectangular forward loop for bearing engagement with therearmost napkin of said pack, said wire spring being resilientlydeflectable rearward into substantially coplanar relation entirelywithin said forward loop, to thereby accommodate a maximum-size pack ofnapkins in said boxlike structure.

4. A household napkin holder and dispenser according to claim 2, saidinterfitting formations comprising a pair of wedge-shaped lugs on one ofsaid flanges and side walls and each projecting toward the adjacentother of said flanges and side walls, said lugs facing forwardly andtapering rearwardly for sliding engagement with said other of saidflanges and side walls, and said other of said flanges and side wallsbeing formed with a pair of openings for respective snap reception andpositive retention of said lugs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 13Sherwood Dec. 5, 1905 Garrod May 18, 1909 Winter Feb. 1, 1916 HobergMar. 21, 1916 Strietelmeier Apr. 10, 1923 Hope et a1. Jan. 23, 1934FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 8, 1918

